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The Chamber is the leading business organisation in the East Midlands. With a growing membership of more than 4,100+ businesses and 3,000 affiliates, it is the second largest Chamber of Commerce in the country.

Futurologist Jason Bradbury will be our headline speaker at our Annual Dinner 2019, he will cover topics including the evolution of technology and it's implications for the modern world. 👩🏾‍💻 Book tickets here. 👉 bit.ly/2Egf7lppic.twitter.com/bvF7fttbyK

Business Network Magazine

The Chamber’s highly respected flagship publication is produced ten times a year and read by thousands of business people throughout the region – with news from members featuring prominently.

Friday, 15 December 2017

Toyota's 25 years of manufacturing at Burnaston

Today Toyota Manufacturing UK (TMUK) celebrates 25 years of building cars at its plant in Derbyshire.

To commemorate this special occasion, invited guests joined staff at the factory for a journey back through the years and heard about £25,000 worth of surprise donations to local charities.

It was 16 December 1992 when the first Carina E drove off the production line at Toyota Manufacturing UK.

On that day, only four cars were built.

Since then, the automotive giant has built almost 4.2 million more at the Derby-based site.

Marvin Cooke, Managing Director of TMUK said: “We have only been able to reach this milestone by being competitive – that means achieving quality, productivity, flexibility and cost at global levels - and we will not stand still, we will always strive to be more competitive. Toyota is determined to be here for the long term.”

Over 25 years, the plant has attracted continual investment. In 2010 TMUK Burnaston was the first Toyota plant outside Japan to build hybrid vehicles, which now make up 60% of output. Earlier this year a further £240m was announced, upgrading the factory to enable production of the next generation of cars.

Marvin thanked the local community for its support, saying: “I am aware of the huge contribution that the local community has made to TMUK. Without the support of our local authorities, local government leaders, our local colleges, our suppliers and many local partners, and of course our members, we could not have achieved all that we have.”

Tony Walker, Deputy Managing Director, added: “Toyota does not exist purely to make cars and return a profit. We exist to make a full contribution to the societies in which we operate. In these past 25 years we have donated over £5.5m to local charities and organisations.”

In recognition of today’s milestone, representatives from the factory and Charitable Trust surprised 12 local organisations with a share each of £25,000 towards their work.

Umbrella, based in Mackworth, Derby, which provides support for children and young adults with special educational needs and disabilities and their families, received £2,500. Ann Rowlands, CEO of Umbrella, said: “This wonderful surprise donation from Toyota means so much to Umbrella. We have been fundraising to convert a piece of adjoining land into a safe space car park for the children and young people to access Umbrella safely and this now means we are a huge leap closer to turning it into reality”.

Strategic Partners

The Chamber is proud to work in partnership with carefully-selected and universally-recognised regional brands – many of which have a national and international presence - and the largest employers across the counties of Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire.

Patrons

If you want to expand your reach in the East Midlands, then becoming a Chamber Patron is a shrewd move. It enables you to mix with the regions leading businesses at exclusive events, gain insight into what's going to happen and helps raise you profile on multiple levels.

Strategic Partners

The Chamber is proud to work in partnership with carefully-selected and universally-recognised regional brands – many of which have a national and international presence - and the largest employers across the counties of Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire.

Patrons

If you want to expand your reach in the East Midlands, then becoming a Chamber Patron is a shrewd move. It enables you to mix with the regions leading businesses at exclusive events, gain insight into what's going to happen and helps raise you profile on multiple levels.